Is plastic sheeting a termite barrier?

[Bobby Jim]

I inspected a building with plastic sheeting being used as a termite barrier on newly added piers. Is this acceptable?

[John Kogel]

Nope, also a pine 2x4 or whatever dimension installed flat does not make an adequate support beam, either.

The rotten joist will continue to rot, should have been removed, probably. Are we supposed to believe the termites have moved out?

What about the moisture that lead to that mess? Was that issue solved?

[Jim Katen]

20 hours ago, Bobby Jim said:

I inspected a building with plastic sheeting being used as a termite barrier on newly added piers. Is this acceptable?

Hell no. 

Termites will chew through that plastic like a puppy chewing through a new carpet. 

Does anything work as a termite barrier in your area? Around here, they just go around whatever barrier we put up. 

[Bobby Jim]

No doubt there are lots of issues in this picture. We usually see metal pans at the top of the piers, but I’ve seen plastic before and wondered if it actually had any effect.

[Jim Katen]

15 hours ago, Bobby Jim said:

We usually see metal pans at the top of the piers . . . 

 Don't the termites just build tubes around the metal? 

[Marc]

Yeah, they're just meant to deny termites a concealed route to dinner.  Forcing them to build a tube around it makes it possible for us who look to find it.

[Jim Baird]

My best guess is the plastic was supposed to make up for that pine pier cap not being treated material?

The cap it drapes over is a solid piece, no?

The metal shield  idea is like Marc said, making the bugs be more visible in their tube construction.